Gov. Rick Perry examines an advanced optics system at Camp Swift in Bastrop, Texas on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. Perry visited some of the 1,000 troops he has ordered to the Texas-Mexico border but says he does not know how long they'll be deployed. (AP Photo/San Antonio Express-News, William Luther) less

Gov. Rick Perry examines an advanced optics system at Camp Swift in Bastrop, Texas on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. Perry visited some of the 1,000 troops he has ordered to the Texas-Mexico border but says he does ... more

Photo: William Luther, MBO

Image 4 of 5

Texas Gov. Rick Perry gives a thumbs-up to supporters before speaking at the Des Moines Register's Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. The fair runs through Aug. 17th. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Texas Gov. Rick Perry gives a thumbs-up to supporters before speaking at the Des Moines Register's Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. The fair runs through

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, second from left, talks with Dr. Cody Hoefert, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, during a meeting with local party activists, Saturday, July 19, 2014, in Algona, Iowa. After his presidential bid crashed in 2012, Iowans now have to decide whether to give Perry another spin. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) less

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, second from left, talks with Dr. Cody Hoefert, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, during a meeting with local party activists, Saturday, July 19, 2014, in Algona, Iowa. After his presidential bid ... more

Photo: Charlie Neibergall, STF

Is Perry going to run in 2016? Check his schedule

1 / 5

Back to Gallery

AUSTIN - When Texas Gov. Rick Perry teamed up with Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Hannah Ferguson last week to help launch a new Thickburger at a Carl's Jr. restaurant in South Austin, many in the small crowd on hand seemed puzzled.

"The governor is cutting the ribbon for a burger? What's with that?" wondered Angie Salazar, an Austin software engineer who stopped to see what had drawn a crowd. "Maybe he'll tell us whether he's running for president."

It was not to be, even though the Carl's Jr. CEO and a Houston charity director said during the late-morning event that they hoped he would run in 2016.

For Perry, the offbeat announcement provided another chance for Texas' longest-serving chief executive to extoll the successes of the Lone Star State's booming economy, burnishing his credentials as a proven can-do politician who deserves another shot at the GOP nomination, after an "oops" moment and other missteps ended his first try two years ago.

More Information

Photo ops everywhere

At the border: Perry goes on patrol with Texas Department of Public Safety officials in July. Camp Swift: Perry examines an advanced optics system on a visit with Guard troops in Bastrop Wednesday. Iowa State Fair: Perry acknowledges supporters during a swing through Iowa's presidential testing grounds this week. Meet and greet: In Iowa last month, Perry met with GOP activists including Cody Hoefert, of Rock Rapids.

Fueled by the ongoing border crisis and his headline-grabbing decision two weeks ago to send in National Guard troops, Perry has become a household name once more, at a time when all signs seem to indicate he will run for president again in 2016.

Familiar face on TV

In recent months, he has crisscrossed the country to help elect Republicans in seven states from South Carolina to Pennsylvania, Illinois to California. More recently, he has become a familiar face on national TV news shows and political events, even taking to the State Fair soapbox in Iowa, a traditional site for candidates likely to run for president.

In the Rio Grande Valley, his ballcap turned backward, he has patrolled the border with conservative TV host Sean Hannity. In Iowa, his Twitter feed features photos of him posing with tractors, VFW members, politicians, even a contestant from "The Bachelor" who was at the Iowa State Fair. In Dallas, he attended a "Dallas Stands with Israel" rally. In Aspen, he posed with New York GOP gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino.

On Wednesday, Perry addressed Guard soldiers at Camp Swift, telling them he's not interested in "TV ratings" despite inviting the news media to the event.

This fall, Perry is scheduled to travel to Asia, for the World Economic Summit, and to Europe - trips that could elevate his profile even more.

Perry has made no secret that he is seriously considering another presidential run. And political observers agree that his busy travel schedule seems to hint he is more than just considering.

"This is no surprise," said James Campbell, a political scientist at the University at Buffalo in New York and expert on presidential campaigns. "At this stage, with a long way to go before the primaries, you want to be out there to tell activists and donors that you're at the game, near the head of the pack … For someone who fell off the national stage two years ago, he's regained national visibility. He's moving into the range of 'We should give him a second chance.' "

Pushing his outsider status

Translator

To read this article in one of Houston's most-spoken languages, click on the button below.

In a Wednesday interview with Fox News, asked whether his travels hinted at his intentions, Perry said only that he was just working to elect Republicans.

"I want to see America change trajectory," he said, criticizing the "failure of leadership" in Washington, a theme that underscores his outsider status over potential GOP rivals, including U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, of Texas, and Rand Paul, of Kentucky.

For now, the approach seems to be working for Perry.

"Iowans are meeting the new Rick Perry and liking what they see. This is not the same man who joined the presidential race in August of 2011 as the front- runner and quickly plummeted. The 'oops' guy is gone," reads a story about a recent Perry speech in The Iowa Republican, run by former state GOP political director Craig Robinson. "This new Rick Perry is animated. He speaks off-the-cuff. He cracks jokes. He brings audiences to their feet."

Des Moines conservative radio talk show host Steve Deace explained Perry's current ascension like this: "People can see there is an alpha male there they didn't see last time. He was very good and extremely likable."

Political scientists say words like those are gold for Perry and other potential candidates.

"Right now, Gov. Perry and others who are looking at 2016 are coming in, helping Republican candidates in Iowa, but also making contacts in the state should they chose to run," said Tim Hagle, an associate professor of political science at the University of Iowa who tracks presidential campaigning. "It keeps their name out there … Gov. Perry is clearly in a mode of rehabilitating himself, and he seems to be doing fairly well."

Multiple trips to Iowa

Perry aides insist the governor is just promoting Texas' economic successes and his strong stance on border security.

"In light of continued federal inaction to secure our border, Gov. Perry has stepped up to protect the residents of Texas and our country from criminal aliens, narco-traffickers and transnational gangs," said his spokesman, Travis Considine.

Last week, on Perry's sixth trip to Iowa in recent weeks, he was making the rounds with Cruz, Paul, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.

At the moment, many agree, Perry seems to have an edge. As Campbell sees it, Perry "has baggage to overcome from 2012, but he also has the immigration that he's almost uniquely suited to benefit from."

That issue is helping keep his name before the public.

"His goal at this point is proving that the Rick Perry people saw in 2012 was not the real Rick Perry," Rice University political scientist Mark Jones said. "The more he is out there, the more he has the chance to show Republican voters he is savvy, effective, a leader."

Endorsements can't hurt

Then, too, may come endorsements - like the two Perry garnered at the Austin burger joint last week.

In introducing him, Andrew Puzder, CEO of the Carl's Jr. chain and a longtime supporter, called Perry "America's best governor," who he said would make a good presidential candidate, should he decide to run.

Terry Jung, executive director of the Houston-based Lone Survivor Foundation that will benefit from a promotion tied to the Carl's Jr. burger sales, echoed the sentiment.

"We have the best governor in the country," Jung said, turning to look at Perry outside the restaurant. "If I had my way, we would be looking at the next commander in chief."